Reviews

Miho Hazama starts a journey
BY SEAN SMITH
SPECIAL TO THE JAPAN TIMES
JAN 23, 2013
It�s believed that time spent living abroad can be a journey of self-discovery, and for Miho Hazama that has certainly been the case. Moving to New York to study for a master�s degree in jazz composition at the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) was an experience that led to the recording of her debut, �Journey to Journey� � a refreshingly original album of orchestral jazz, that stood out as one of the most notable releases in Japan last autumn.

Speaking of her time in New York, Hazama says �It was definitely a great experience in terms of finding myself in a lot of ways. Not only as a composer, but also as a person from a classical music background, as a Japanese woman, and so on.

�Before I studied abroad, I was struggling to find my own voice, something that truly said, �This is me,� � she continues. �But after I started my MSM life, a lot of friends and teachers told me that my compositions were unique and interesting, and they encouraged me to keep going. Eventually, I got to the point where I decided that I wanted my music to be heard by a wider audience.�

�When I was a freshman, I just happened to catch a concert by the college big band. To be honest, before that day I wasn�t even aware that the college had a big band,� she recalls. �Anyway, I thought they sounded really cool and that I might be able to experience something exciting in the band. So, I started playing piano with them, and through that I got to know the music of Maria Schneider, Vince Mendoza, Jim McNeely and Mike Holober � all of whom have become big musical influences for me. From that point on, I became more and more interested in jazz composition.�

Hazama, who sees herself principally as a composer and arranger, doesn�t see this shift of musical attention as a massive change. �To be honest I don�t really like categorizing music,� she says, �and these days it�s not uncommon to see jazz artists incorporating elements of R&B or contemporary classical music in their music. Personally, the composition process is pretty much the same for me regardless of the style � I just need some kind of concept, plan or structure in my mind before I start writing.�

With orchestral arrangements using both strings and horns present throughout the album, it�s clear that Hazama�s earlier studies have had some influence on this recording. �Since I used to study classical music, I love writing for symphony orchestras,� she explains. �I couldn�t help but hear strings in my mind when I was composing these tunes, so I ended up choosing this kind of instrumentation. I would like to keep working on this instrumentation for a while, and I hope to get more chances to work with orchestras.�

There is also a lot of New York in the album, too, with plenty of swinging contemporary original compositions, as well as a bold new arrangement of Lady Gaga�s �Paparazzi.� For Hazama, it seems that her experience in New York has been an important one musically.

�I feel that people are very interested in listening to music in general in New York, and it�s also one of the most important cities in the history of jazz,� she says. �So many people enjoy jazz music every night there, which made me feel like jazz exists more naturally in the United States.�

�Sadly, in Japan, I feel like jazz is sometimes viewed as being elitist or high-brow. Either that or it�s seen as a bit too bohemian. In New York, however, the scene is open to both devoted fans of the genre and visitors.�

The notion of self-discovery is a strong theme on the album, too, with track titles such as �Believing in Myself� and �What Will You See When You Turn The Next Corner?� in addition to the title track.

� �Journey to Journey� is pretty much an album that allows me to introduce myself,� says Hazama. �I was very honored to have been able to work with such great musicians, directors and engineers. As a composer and arranger, I feel that the players had such a vital role, as they are the ones who brought the music I imagined to life.�

From recording in New York to a critically acclaimed album release in Japan, Hazama�s journey as a recording artist has started strong. With a North American and European release penciled in for this spring, it looks as though the immediate future will bring further exciting installments in her musical odyssey.